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Here's another example of that rare kind of discrimination case: a white public sector employee crying foul over the hiring of a black colleague.

When Sergeant David Bonenberger found out that the Assistant Director slot in the Police Academy was up for grabs in September 2010, he decided to go for it.

But, according to his petition filed yesterday in federal court, he was told not to bother by Lt. Michael Muxo, director of the Academy. Muxo reportedly said he was under direction from Lt. Colonel Reggie L. Harris to "bring color down to the Academy" by filling the post with an African-American woman.

Which is essentially what happened.

Even though Bonenberger applied, and had many qualifications (see page four of the petition below), neither he nor fellow candidate Angela Taylor were interviewed. But she was the one who got the job. (The petition does not give Taylor's rank nor her background.)

Bonenberger says he filed an internal complaint, but it was "denied without explanation and in violation of Department policy."